News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Charles III, Sovereign Prince of Monaco "is offering his principality to France for 10,000,000 French Francs, reports the New York Times. According to the convention of 1860, the principality will become a part of France "in the event of the present line dying out."

Last year, Prince Charles received 8,500,000 FF for "his right" in Monaco's gambling casinos. Despite this infusion of cash, the Prince of Monaco is said to be "in financial straits again."

Monaco's "concessions" to the Blanc family will not expire until 1910.

Prince Charles, who married Countess Antoinette de Merode in 1846. She brought to the marriage a well-endowed dowry, which her husband used to finance the modernization of Monaco. Antoinette gave birth to the couple's only son, Hereditary Prince Albert, in November 1848. Antoinette died in 1964 at the age of 35.

Although King Peter II of Yugoslavia and Princess Alexandra of Greece are now officially engaged, the date of the wedding has not been set due to the circumstances of the war, reports the New York Times.

The bride-to-be's mother, Princess Aspasia of Greece, told the media that "We want to hear good news of the war before anything else. Princess Alexandra feels this is not a time for rejoicing."

The 22-year-old Princess is described as having "dark hair and a vivacious manner." She has spent her time in exile "working mornings at St. James's Pa;ace for the relief of prisoners of war." In the afternoons, she lends a hand at a canteen for Allied nurses, officers and men, which is run by Mrs. Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, wife of the United States Ambassador to "the exiled governments.

Princess Alexandra is the niece of King George II of the Hellenes and the daughter of the late King Alexander. She and her future husband are great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.

The Princess is wearing an engagement ring, a "family heirloom" from King Peter. The ring has "a blue diamond set in white diamonds."

Former Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain has accepted "a settlement of $40,00,000 on the $100,000 bequest" left to her by the late Alexander P. Moore, who once served as the American ambassador to Spain.

Moore's executor told the Associated Press that he "reached the settlement" at a recent meeting with Victoria Eugenia and her advisers at Fontainebleau, France.

At the time of Moore's death, his estate was worth about $1,500,000, but has "since shrunk to about $700,000."

Alexander Moore was a former Pittsburgh publisher. He also served as ambassador to Peru. He died in 1930.

[Adjusting for inflation, the Queen received $701,000 from the Moore estate.]

Dowager Queen Margherita of Italy, widow of the King Umberto, continues to linger "between life and death," reports the Los Angeles Times. She is attended by several court specialists, who remain in constant attendance at her bedside at the Quirinal Palace.

The Queen is suffering from cancer of the throat, which incurable. The disease is a "slow, but surely advancing disease."

Two weeks ago, cable dispatches to Italian newspapers published in the United States, prematurely announce Queen Margherita's death.

The Spanish news agency EFE is reporting that Infanta Cristina of Spain and her four children are moving to Geneva, Switzerland.

Cristina, 48, is the second of three children of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

The report states that Cristina's husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, will not be joining him. He is under investigation in a corruption scandal.

The Infanta is expected to undertake new a job with the Caixa Foundation in Geneva. She will be coordinating Caixa's programs with UN agencies. She also has been asked to "foster new collaborative programs with social and cultural Aga Khan Development Network," which is based in Geneva.Her husband will remain in Barcelona, and, according to EFE, will make regular visits to his family in Switzerland.

Cristina and her children are expected to move to Geneva in late August.

The couple's four children, Juan Valentin, Pablos Nicolas, Miguel and Irene, will attend school in Geneva. This is the third move for the Infanta. In 2009, the family lived in Bethesda, Maryland, as Iñaki worked for the Spanish telecommunications firm, Telefonica, in Washington, D,C. After three years, the family returned to Barcelona. Due to Iñaki's involvement in the Noos scandal, he quit his job with Telefonica.

Urdangarin, 45, is suspected of embezzling funds from a non-profit foundation, but he has not been charged with any crime.

This news came one day after a Barcelona judge lifted the ban on the media to "disseminate" Urdangarin's personal emails. He had asked to keep the mails private because he believed the media would publish "intimate personal and family issues."

earlier this year, Iñaki had accepted a position as an assistant coach for Qatar's handball team. He had been offered by job by his former coach, Valero Rivera. But due to problems with Qatar authorities, Iñaki had to give up the opportunity.

The couple's home in Barcelona has been for sale for several months.

The report is based on "well-informed sources" close to the Spanish royal family.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

King Peter II of Yugoslavia, now living in exile in London, has received permission to marry Princess Alexandra of Greece, reports United Press. The 19-year-old king threw his Cabinet "into turmoil last May" when he originally sought permission to marry.

He has now "won his battle and the hand of the woman he loves" by receiving the blessing of a new Cabinet.

The engagement was announced by Prime Minister Milos Trifunovich, although Peter has actually been engaged to the "attractive Princess" for more than a year.

Princess Alexandra, the daughter of the late King Alexander I of the Hellenes and the Greek-born Aspasia Manos, is three years Peter's senior.

The Prime Minister stated that there would be no "royal state receptions" to celebrate the engagement due to "the great sufferings" of the Yugoslav people.

King Peter's permission to marry caused a split among his Cabinet. Six members felt that he should not marry "until Axis armies had been driven from the soils of the two countries." Other members felt that Peter's engagement would strengthen his "prestige and result in favorable diplomatic relations between nations."

Peter has since recognized his Cabinet with a new, more supportive Prime Minister.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent have arrived at Schloss Winhöring, near the Austrian border, reports the New York Times. The couple are en route to Yugoslavia to visit the Duchess' sister, Olga, who is married to Prince Regent Paul and their family.

Schloss Winhöring is the home of the Count of Toerring-Jettenbach, who is married to the Duchess of Kent's other sister, Princess Elisabeth.

The Duke of Kent has spent some time fishing on the estate, and today, he made a "motor excursion to Kreuth in the Bavarian Alps."

The couple are expected to spend a few days with the Duchess' sister before continuing driving to Yugoslavia.

The Succession to the Crown Act, which was passed earlier this year (and signed by Queen Elizabeth II, remains in limbo, and is not officially the law. Lord President, Nick Clegg, has not stated that the Act is the law of the land. The other 15 realms have not passed the legislation. The law is facing serious hurdles in Canada and in Australia.

It is also entirely possible that due to the birth of Prince George, the proposed legislation could be tabled in some or all of the other countries.

Thus, Lord St. Andrews and Prince Michael of Kent remain excluded from the line of succession.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Dr. Laking, who recently received a knighthood from Queen Victoria, is the official "surgeon-apothecary" to her Majesty and other members of the royal family.

Queen Victoria has plans to invest the Duke of York as a Knight of the Thistle. She wants the investiture to be "a ceremony of considerable state." The event will take place at Balmoral in the fall. The Duke, who is second in line to throne, married Princess Mary of Teck on July 6.

Princess Mary's brother, Prince Francis is "said to be engaged to Miss Bass. This will be "incline the brewing interests to cry all 'ail to Miss Bass" as she "pursues the even tenor of her royal way." The Hon. Nellie Bass is the only daughter of Lord Burton. She is said to have an annual income of $1,500,000.

And Prince Louis of Battenberg has "invented a ruler, provided with rollers," which "calculations can be at once made of the distance a ship has run within a given time." It also can provide the distance "of a ship from another vessel or any object."

Count Wilhelm zu Waldburg-Zeil was killed today in a "motoring accident" on the Oberalp Pass in Switzerland, reports the New York Times. His wife, and her aunt, Princess Maria Theresa, were not "seriously injured."

When Count, who was driving the car, reached the top of the Pass, 6,720 feed above sea level," he "declared that he was tired," and he asked his wife to take over the driving. They had only just begun their descent when the car "dashed over the parapet."

The car somersaulted several times before landing forty feet below. The two women were "flung out" of the car before it landed. Neither women suffered serious injuries, but Count Wilhelm, 37, was "instantly killed" as he was pinned under the car. Several tourists who witnessed the accident were able to extract his body from under the car.

Countess Wilhelm and the Dowager Princess of Waldburg-Zeil were taken to a hotel on the Oberalp.

The accident was apparently caused by "the brakes failing."

Count Maria Gustav Wilhelm Karl Maximilian of Waldburg-Zeil, was born at the family's castle in Zeil on January 19, 1890. He and his family lived at Schloss Rimpach at Leutkirch in Württemberg. He had served in the military, and retired cavalry captain.

He married Countess Maria Theresa of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz at Vienna on September 28, 1921. Her aunt, who is also named Maria Theresa, is married to the late Count Wilhelm's uncle, Georg, who was head of the house of Waldburg-Zeil, until he was killed in battle in France in September, 1918.

The current head of the Waldburg-Zeil is Ernst August, the second son of Prince Georg and Princess Maria Theresa. He became the heir after the eldest son, Eberhard, was killed in action in 1916.

The late Count Wilhelm leaves behind his widow and two young daughters, Countess Marie Gabrielle, who will celebrate her 5th birthday on September 1, and two year-old Countess Elisabeth.

The Duke of Orleans, pretender to the French throne, is "detained at Inverness Lodge, a spacious villa in Roehampton," near London, reports the Daily Express. The report has been picked up by the New York Times.

He is watched over night and day by "male attendants." He is said to be "so ill that at times he suffers from delusions."

Occasionally, the duke has cried out: "I am here a prisoner, I, the King of France, a prisoner."

He was staying at Oaklea in Wimbledon, where he became ill. He was taken by ambulance to Inverness Lodge "to undergo special treatment." According to the news reports, he was removed by four people against his will."

The Duke's chief financial agent in England released a statement on his behalf:
"The Duke contracted an infection of paludeene fever (malaria) during his r3cent travels in Africa. he was In poor health when he came from Brussels to London three months or so ago, hoping that the change would do him good. When he came to London, he stayed at Oaklea, Wimbledon. There he became very much worse. The advice of eminent medical men in London and from Paris was sought and it was agreed among members of the Duke's family that he should receive special treatment.

"It was impossible for this treatment to be given at Oaklea and for the sake of convenience the house, Inverness Lodge, was taken, furnished as a suitable place where the Duke could be kept. Everyone of the Duke's relatives knows of his condition and of the steps that were taken. King George was informed, former King Manoel of Portugal making a journey to England for the purpose of telling the King.

"As a matter of fact the Duke did not know where he was coming when he was brought here. He practically was unconscious at the time and was carried out from his bed at Oaklea and removed here in an ambulance. The Duke is under the direct supervision of two leading doctors in London and doctors from Paris also come to see him. In addition, there is his private physician, Dr. Cromie, who is in charge of the house. Male attendants are always with the Duke. I am glad to say that the Duke, under treatment is now very much better. He still gets very tired but his attacks have been fewer. There is every hope that he will be well again in a month or so and be able to return home to Brussels. His sister, Queen Amelia of Portugal, comes frequently to see him."

According to several news reports, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will move into Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate. The current tenant has received a "generous" payment from the Queen to move out before his lease expires in March 2015.

Friday, July 26, 2013

In several months, certainly after the Queen returns to Buckingham Palace, after spending some quiet time at Balmoral, Prince George of Cambridge will be dressed in the new royal christening gown (first worn by Lord Severn) and be received into the Church of England. The ceremony will most likely be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

George's great-grandmother is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. One day, in about 50-60 years, George will be the sovereign, and will take his religious obligations seriously.

The selection of godparents will be very important. The Church of England has a primer on godparents.

One does not select godparents on the basis of friendship or because you are close to your sister.

Baby George may have 4 or more godparents. The godparents will more likely come from William's side of the family. There is no doubt that William will seek and receive advice from his father and his grandmother.

I do not think that Prince Harry nor Pippa Middleton will be on the list. Harry and William are very close as are Catherine and Pippa. Being a loving uncle and aunt is not the same thing as being a good godparent.

They have other roles to play in the life of Prince George. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge won't be snubbing their siblings, although the tabloids will say they are.

Here are my candidates:

James Ogilvy, son of Princess Alexandra (William's godmother.) He met his wife, Julia, when they were both students as St. Andrews', and their home outside Edinburgh, was a bolt hole for Prince William during his time at university. James was a mentor to Prince William.

Alexandra "Tiggy" Legge-Bourke Pettifer. Tiggy, whose mother was once one of Princess Anne's ladies-in-waiting, worked for the Prince of Wales in a number of positions, including his personal assistant, nanny and companion to Princes William and Harry. The two princes remain close to Tiggy. Harry is godfather to Tiggy's elder son, Fred, and William is the younger son, Tom's, godfather.

Tiggy and her husband maintain strong connections with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Princess Beatrice of York. William's first cousin.

The Earl or Countess of Wessex. The future Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

James Middleton. Most likely, the heir to the Middletons' empire.

Lady Fellowes or Lady Sarah McCorquodale: Prince William's maternal aunts. Either would be able to tell George about his paternal grandmother.

One of the van Straubenzees, but not a van Cutsem. Roman Catholic Canon law does not permit Roman Catholics to serve as godparents at Protestant baptisms. They be Christian witnesses. The reverse also applies to Protestants, who can serve as Christian witnesses at Roman Catholic baptisms, again, according to Canon law.

Crown Prince Pavlos of the Hellenes. His father, King Constantine II, is William's godfather. Prince William's first godchild is Pavlos' son, Prince Konstantine.

A dark horse candidate might be Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, elder son of Queen Margrethe II. Frederik is married to Tasmanian born Mary Donaldson, whose parents were born in Scotland.

Several writers have included the Earl of Ulster, son and heir of the Duke of Gloucester. Having the first name of Alexander does not mean he will be a godfather. Lord Ulster is the director of the Transnational Crisis Project, and does not undertake royal duties.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The engagement is announced between James, son of Mr and Mrs Lochie Spearman of Perthshire, Scotland and Amélia, daughter of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Antonio de Orléans e Bragança and Princess Christine de Ligne of Rio de Janeiro

James was born on March 27, 1984. His father's full is Alexander Lochain Spearman and his mother is Spanish, Doña Pilin de Garrigues is the daughter of the late Don Mariano
Garrigues Díaz Cañabate
and the late Doña Catalina Carnicer Guerra.

The date for the wedding has not been announced. Although James has an interesting lineage, he may not be considered an equal match for Princess Amelia.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

All three names are family names, very traditional names. George is not the first Cambridge prince with the name George.

Prince Adolphus, 10th child of George III, was Duke of Cambridge. He married Augusta of Hesse-Cassel. Their eldest child, Prince George of Cambridge (1819-1904), a first cousin, was the second and last Duke of Cambridge of that creation. He married in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act, which meant that his sons could not inherit his titles or bear his name.

Prince George's youngest sister, Mary Adelaide, married the Duke of Teck. Their daughter, Mary, married George V - the grandparents of Queen Elizabeth II, whose father, Prince Albert, Duke of York, reigned as George VI, even though he was always known privately as Bertie.

The Cambridges were, of course, paternal first cousins to Queen Victoria. Another paternal first cousin, was Prince George of Cumberland, who succeeded his father, Prince Ernest Augustus, as Duke of Cumberland, but also as King Georg V of Hannover. [William IV died in June 1837. The British throne was inherited by his niece, Victoria, but the Kingdom of Hannover passed to his brother, the Duke of Cumberland, due to Salic law.]

George was the first name of the first four kings of the Hanover dynasty. The third king should have been Frederick, but he died before his father, George II, who when George II died, he was succeeded by Frederick's eldest son, George, who reigned as George III. His eldest son was George IV.

Queen Victoria decided to go with other names for her sons. The eldest was Albert Edward (for her husband and her father). The youngest son, Leopold was given George as one of his middle names.

The future Edward VII and his wife Alexandra named their second George. The eldest son, Prince Albert Victor, was named for his paternal grandparents. He died in January 1892, only weeks before his marriage to Princess Mary of Teck (daughter of Mary Adelaide of Cambridge). Prince George moved into second place in the line of succession. In 1894, he married his brother's fiancee.

They saved George as a first name for their fifth child and fourth son, Prince George Edward Alexander Edmund (1902-1942), although the two eldest sons, Edward (known as David) and Albert have George as one of their middle names. This Prince George was created Duke of Kent in 1934. His eldest grandson, the Earl of St. Andrews, is also named George.

Queen Victoria was named for her godfather Emperor Alexander I of all the Russias. She was baptized as Alexandrina Victoria, called Drina for several years, but reigned as Victoria. There are three Scots kings with the name of Alexander, but the name returned to the Royal family when Princess Alexandra of Denmark married the future Edward VII in 1863.

Two of their three daughters, Louise and Victoria have Alexandra as one of their middle names. The youngest son was named Alexander John. He lived for only a few hours in 1871.

Princess Louise named her eldest daughter, Alexandra, who married Prince Arthur of Connaught. Alexandra is the first name of Princess Alexandra (1936), only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. It is also a middle name for several descendants of George V, including Queen Elizabeth.

The name Alexander also comes from Prince Philip's family. Prince Alexander of Hesse and By Rhine (1823-1888) was married morganatically to Julie von Hauke, who was created Princess of Battenberg, Alexander's nephew, Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and by Rhine, married Queen Victoria's second daughter, Princess Alice.

Alexander and Julie's eldest son, Prince Louis of Battenberg (1854-1921) married Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. Louis and Victoria's father were first cousins. Prince Louis served in the Royal Navy, became a naturalized British citizen, and was created Marquess of Milford Haven in 1917.

Louis and Victoria had four children: Alice (married Prince Andrew of Greece), Louise (married as his second wife, King Gustav VI of Sweden), George (married Countess Nada Torby) and Louis (married Edwina Ashley.) The present Marquess of Milford Haven is George's grandson. Louis was created Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and was assassinated in 1979 by the IRA.

Although Lord Mountbatten had a close relationship with Prince Charles, he did not raise Prince Philip. Philip's guardian was Louis' older brother, George who died in 1938. Lord Louis Mountbatten, as he was then styled, did not become a force in Philip's life until Philip joined the Royal Navy.

Princess Alice and Prince Andrew were the parents of four daughters and a son, Prince Philip. The third of the four daughters, Princess Cecilie married Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus of Hesse and By Rhine, who was the elder son of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and By Rhine, younger brother of Princess Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven.

Cecilie and Georg Donatus were the parents of three children: Alexander, Ludwig, and Johanna Marina. In November 1937, they were all killed in a plane crash en route to London for the wedding of Georg Donatus's younger brother, Prince Ludwig, to the Hon. Margaret Geddes.

As the plane prepared for descent, it flew into a chimney and crashed in Ostend. Everyone on board was killed. Cecilie was eight-months-pregnant and gave birth to a stillborn child during the crash.

Prince Ludwig and Margaret were married quietly the next day with Lord Louis stepping in as best man for the late Hereditary Grand Duke. The newly married Prince and Princess Ludwig returned to Darmstadt, where they adopted Johanna Marina, who had been left behind at Darmstadt. Tragically, she died on June 14, 1939 from meningitis. Prince Ludwig and Princess Margaret were very close to their British cousins. In 1964, Prince Ludwig was named as one of Prince Edward's godfathers. One of Edward's four names is Louis.

Prince William has certainly honored his family's history by naming his son, George Alexander Louis.

Numerous "news" outlets have reported comments by the Princess Royal about baby Cambridge. US(less)Weekly, EOnline, among others, have reported that the Princess said "Nothing to do with me," when she was asked about the newborn son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

As a matter of fact: the Princess Royal said these exact words about the birth of her new great-nephew.

On July 12 (before the baby was born) the Princess was congratulated on the news that her daughter, Zara, is expecting her first child.

Anne said: “Oh, that was nothing to do with me,” and she apparently said with a "huge grin."

No one is perfect, even when reporting on royalty. The BBC has described royal watchers as a "unique lunacy." (Guilty.) As with any news story, there are "experts" to be paraded out before the cameras to offer their knowledge of royal events.

Sadly, British and American networks are relying on people with names but with little knowledge or true expertise.

In the last week, CNN and NBC have produced hour long specials on the royal birth. Dateline NBC's "documentary" "The Royal Prince" ran last night at 10:00 p.m. What a disappointment.

Natalie Morales slogged through the program but the "experts" were way off base. The two people used were Andrew Morton and a historian named Suzannah Liscomb.

Morton is the Executive Director and CEO of the Diana Camp. When discussing the Middletons and their protection of Catherine, he mentioned that Carole probably read his book on Diana and would want to keep the same thing from happening to her daughter. The circumstances are very different.

Morton goes on to say how great Diana was as a mother, and then decides in his own way to skewer the Prince of Wales. He tells the millions of viewers watching this program that Charles was home schooled, and he told Diana he wanted his kids to be home schooled, too.

He attended Hill House, Cheam, and then Gordonstoun in Scotland, where his father also attended. He also spent sometime at school in Australia. [ABC's 20/20, which was televised on Tuesday night in the United States, was absolutely dreadful. The only two commentators who provided any gravitas were Victoria Arbiter and Ingrid Seward.

The Prince of Wales hated his time at Gordonstoun. His comments about his time at Gordonstoun are well known, documented in the media and by "serious biographers." He supported Diana's idea that the princes attend Eton.

The other "expert" Suzannah Liscomb is a British historian who specializes in the 16th century, which apparently gives her the gravitas to talk about the British royalty. Memo to NBC: she spoke well, looked good, but she was clueless. She certainly fell off the train when she said that Diana was first to give birth to a royal in a hospital. No, that would be the Duchess of Kent, the wife of the Queen's first cousin, the Duke of Kent, who gave birth to her third child, Lord Nicholas Windsor, in a London hospital in 1970.

The Duchess of Gloucester, the wife of another of the Queen's first cousins, and Princess Anne had babies in the Lindo Wing before Diana.

She also erred big time by stating that Charles was the first royal father to be present at a birth. She is probably very good about events that took place in the 1500s, but apparently not the 1800 or 1900s. Prince Albert was present for the birth of all nine of Victoria's children. As noted in the Court Circular, which also noted that the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) was present for the birth of his first born, Prince Albert Victor, in 1864.) The Court Circular also noted that the Duke of Kent was present when his wife, Marina, gave birth to their first child, Prince Edward, in 1935.

Don't let a few facts get in your way when opining on national television. CNN's special was shown last Thursday. Their taking heads were Kate Nicholls, who writes for the Sunday Mail, and has written several royal hagiographies, and American writer Christopher Anderson. He has written several truly awful books on Diana and her sons.

Anderson repeated the canard that Carole was the one who encouraged Catherine to go to St. Andrews so she could meet William. Untrue. Never happened. I am so tired of the attacks on the Middletons, who seem to be a perfectly normal well-to-do British family. Here in the United States, the Middletons would be celebrated for being self-made, starting a business that is now worth something like £45 million. They have a nice home, their children are well educated, and they are a happily married couple.

Equally important, Catherine has a very good relationship with her mother. The same could not be said for Diana and her mother. Frances left her husband, Lord Althorp, for another man. The Althorp marriage did not work out. It happens. She took her two youngest children, Diana and Charles, to live with her, but when Lord Althorp filed for divorce, charging his wife with adultery, Frances lost custody of her children. Her own mother, Ruth, Lady Fermoy, testified in favor of her former son-in-law. It was said that Lady Fermoy chose to side with the future Earl Spencer because he had a title, and Frances's second husband was a commoner.

Although Diana spent time with her mother, she lived with her father (when she was not a boarding school), who hired nannies and governesses to look after his children. Things might have been different if Diana had a real maternal relationship with her mom, who might have advised Diana to not marry Charles, due to her age and the age difference between her and Charles. Frances had also married young to an older man, and her marriage failed. Although Diana and her sons had bucket and spade holidays with Frances, Diana and her mother never shared the same closeness that Catherine has with her mother.

In her final years of life, Diana had a fractured relationship with her mother. They were barely talking when Diana was killed in a car accident in August 1997. Frances mourned her daughter, made disparaging remarks about Charles, but did accept his invitation to Highgrove, so she could spend some time with her grandsons.

The British media (especially the tabloids) have done their very worst to tear down the Middletons, but celebrate the lineage of Prince Harry's new girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, whose mother, Lady Mary Gaye Curzon, is a daughter of the Earl Howe. Lady Mary-Gaye has been married four times, with Cressida's father, Jeffrey Bonas, chalking up two marital failures. Cressida has half-siblings who have half and step siblings. All the right schools, great family connections, but no evidence of a establishing a foundation for marital stability.

The story about Carole pushing Catherine toward St. Andrews to catch a prince is totally without merit. People who write this nonsense have no knowledge of how one applies and gets into a British university. Applying to a British university is very different than here in the United States. It is a long process that requires the results of your A-levels ... and what you want to study. Universities offer a number of places for each degree of study. A person might want to study Geography at University A but is not offered a place because the A-levels might not be good enough. The school might offer a place for another degree with different A-levels. Or there might be a place a second or third choice, but it is not similar to the American method of applying to dozens of universities, getting accepted into one or more, picking and choosing, weighing financial aid offers and so on. Americans largely do not pick a major until after the first year, and then may change that major several times.

Kate Nicholls offered her usual remarks, including the one about Catherine having a poster of William on her wall at Marlborough School. I guess Kate did not read the transcript from William and Catherine's engagement interview.

"TB: There's a story that goes around that you had a picture of him on your
wall. William: There wasn't just one, there was about 20. Miss Middleton: He wishes. No, I had the Levis guy on my wall, not a picture
of William, sorry. "

I am not tooting my own horn because I have done media and print interviews. But I think it is very important for the news media to make sure the people they bring on actually know what they are talking about. Natalie Morales should have questioned Morton by saying: are you sure Charles was educated at the palace? I have read that he attended different schools.

Other gaffes in the CNN special: claiming William and Catherine broke tradition by not going to Balmoral for their honeymoon. Charles and Diana's first nights were at Broadlands (where the Queen and Philip spent the first part of their honeymoon), and then they boarded the royal yacht, Britannia, and cruised. They returned homed and traveled to join the Queen and others at Balmoral.

There are a number of very good royal experts on both sides of the Pond, not all are known names or authors of "popular" books. When Diana died, I spent nearly every day at CNN or NBC, even flown up to NYC to be on Dateline.

The Canadian media is blessed with Carolyn Harris, who recently earned a Ph.D in history. She is becoming a media maven north of the border. She knows the value of researching topics before going on the air. She has the right stuff.

Other recent major faux pas that kept on giving. The nonsense about the royal easel tradition. No, the tradition is putting a note on the railings of gates at Buckingham Palace or Clarence House (where Anne was born). The easel was brought out the day after William was born. This time, the palace eschewed tradition, skipped the note on railings, and just used the Easel. Sad. British media from the Daily Telegraph to Hello magazine fell for the this is the first ever, ever royal who would be a prince or princess of Cambridge. British royal history did not begin in 1981, as many appear to assume.

Baby Cambridge is the first Prince of Cambridge since May 1819, when the Duchess of Cambridge (Princess Augusta of Hesse) gave birth to Prince George of Cambridge on March 26th. He was the second duke of Cambridge, succeeding his father in 1850. He died in 1904. He was a first cousin of Queen Victoria. He had two younger sisters, Princess Augusta and Princess Mary Adelaide.

The new baby is a direct descendant of the Duke of Cambridge. Mary Adelaide, the first People's Princess, married the Duke of Teck. Their daughter, Mary, married King George V, Their second son, Bertie, became King George VI, and his daughter is Queen Elizabeth II. She has a son named Charles who has a son, William, who just became the father of a son.

This leads me to USlessWeekly. which reported about a week ago that William had a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Sandringham a few weeks ago, a formal meeting. Only problem, the Queen was at Edinburgh for official duties when this meeting took place. After I -- and a few others -- told the USWeekly reporter the truth, the story was changed to William meeting with Philip at Sandringham. None of us said it was Philip. I said a meeting would have been impossible. The story was completely fabricated.

Also impossible. The 92-year-old Duke of Edinburgh has been recovering from surgery at Windsor Castle. It was noted yesterday that he is now well enough to accompany the Queen at Balmoral.

ABC's 20/20 special on the royal baby was shown on Tuesday night. I give it 0.0. Apart from the commentary from Ingrid Seward and Victoria Arbiter, whose father, Dickie, once served as the Queen's press spokesman, the show fell flat rather quickly. Lots of gaffes, but most disappointing was Barbara Walters who repeated the nonsense that Prince William was the first heir to attend school. How could Barbara Walter, whose career took off in the 1960s, not know that the Prince of Wales was the first British heir to be sent to school. The Palace certainly never hid the information..

Here is an excerpt from an interview with the Prince of Wales in 1985, where he talks to Barbara about his education and mentions Gordonstoun.

Monday, July 22, 2013

"Michelle and I are so pleased to congratulate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the joyous occasion of the birth of their first child. We wish them all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings.

"The child enters the world at a time of promise and opportunity for our two nations. Given the special relationship between us, the American people are pleased to join with the people of the United Kingdom as they celebrate the birth of the young prince

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm.
The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.Notes to editors
1. The medical staff present were Mr Marcus Setchell, Surgeon-Gynaecologist, Mr Guy Thorpe-Beeston, Obstetrician and Dr Sunit Godambe, Consultant Neonatologist at St. Mary’s Hospital.
2. The names of the baby will be announced in due course3. The baby is third in the line of succession after His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge. He is styled His Royal Highness Prince [name] of Cambridge.

4. A formal notice of the birth will be posted on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace

The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a son at 4:30 p.m. (11:30). Baby weighed 8lbs 6 ozs. Name will be released in due course.

I have been without Internet nearly all day ....

So much for Margaret ... still thinking a Scots regnal name, but George is a strong possibility.

The Duke of Cambridge, who will spend the night with his wife and infant son at the hospital, released a statement: "We could not be happier."

The Prince of Wales said this evening:
“Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.
Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future.”

The first two photos show the easel, which was placed behind the gate after William's birth ... and after the official announcement was placed on the railing of the Buckingham Palace gate. The difference is obvious.

It's official: the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington at 6:00 a.m., this morning.

The new prince or princess will be 3rd in line to the throne. This will be the first time since 1894 with a sovereign and three direct heirs.

taken after the Christening of HH Prince Edward of York, great-grandson of Queen Victoria. The christening took place at White Lodge, Richmond Park on July 16, 1894. The future Edward VIII was born on June 23, 1894 at White Lodge, the home of his maternal grandparents, the Duke and Duchess of Teck. On May 28, 1898, Queen Victoria issued a Letters Patent extending the HRH to the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.

Friday, July 19, 2013

The Marquess of Carisbrooke and the Lady Irene Denison, daughter of the Earl of Londesborough, were married today at the Chapel of St. James's Palace, reports the New York Times.

King George V and Queen Mary and other member of the British royal family were present for the ceremony. Lord Carisbrooke is the eldest son of Princess Beatrice, youngest daughter of the late Queen Victoria. His sister, Ena, is the wife of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.

Only two days ago, Lord Carisbrooke was HH Prince Alexander of Battenberg, but was created Marquess of Carisbrooke after George V abolished German titles, and established the house of Windsor.

King George and Queen Mary were accompanied by their daughter, Princess Mary. Queen Alexandra was accompanied by her daughters, the Princess Royal and Princess Victoria and her granddaughter, Princess Maud.

Other royal guests included the Duke of Connaught, King Manoel of Portugal, Prince Napoleon and Princess Clementine, Princess Christian and Princess Helena Victoria, Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught, Princess Patricia, the Duchess of Albany, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, Princess Marie Louise, the Marquess and Marchioness of Milford Haven and the Lady Louise Mountbatten, the Countess Torby, the Earl and Countess of Medina and Countess Zia Torby.

According to the Times, the chapel was "beautifully decorated with group of palms, variegated maples and ferns with lilies and other white flowers."

The bride was given away by her father. She wore a "draped princess gown of white satin, over which was Brussels lace which gained a prize at the Exhibition of 1851, and was bought by the bride's great-grandfather, the Duke of Beaufort."

Lady Irene's mother and grandmother also the lace at their weddings. The gown's train was lined with blue and made of "pompadour brocade in a design of lotus flowers in blue and silver, bordered with white satin on each side."

A drapery of the "same lovely Brussels" was hung from the shoulders. She wore a cornet "of orange blossoms and a tulle veil edged with silver." Her jewels included a "magnificent spray of roses in diamonds," an heirloom from Lord Carisbrooke's family, a diamond riviere, a gift from the King and Queen of Spain, and a diamond and sapphire pendant from the Hon. Mrs. Ronald Greville.

Lady Irene did not have any bridesmaids, and due to the "absence of Lord Leopold Mountbatten," the groom's younger brother, Captain Sitwell, Grenadier Guards, was best man.

The opening part of the service was performed by Canon Clement Smith, who baptized the bridegroom, while the officiant for the marriage rite was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Canon Edgar Sheppard also took part in the wedding ceremony.

After the wedding, the newlyweds and members of the royal family were driven to 7 Chesterfield Gardens, where the registrar was signed.

There was no reception, and Lord and Lady Carisbrooke left to spend their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey, lent to them by the Hon. Mrs. Greville.

The engagement between Lord Carisbrooke and Lady Irene was announced in May.

Three members of the Princely family of Isenburg-Birstein"were horsewhipped recently by an angry carter." The carter's horses were spooked by the Isenburgs' automobile.

The New York Times reports that that Prince Alfons, Princess Antoinette and Prince Viktor were "motoring to Altenburg," where they were to meet with the Duke of Altenburg. En route, they "encountered a farmer with a load of wood."

His horse "shied before the automobile," and upset the cart, as the wood fell into a ditch. He used his whip to lash out at the princess and princes, taking out his whip, "leaving angry weals on the faces of all three."

The man now faces charges at Gera for his "misdeed." A century ago, he could have been charged with treason.

The three are children of the late Karl, Prince of Isenburg-Birstein and his wife, Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria.

11:03 a.m. According to reliable sources, the police presence at The Manor, on Pease Hill Road, in Bucklebury, has dissipated. At about 3:15 p.m.(in the UK), the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Bucklebury with a police escort. They are apparently en route to London.

This does not mean they are en route to St. Mary's. They could be returning to Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, which is a lot closer to the hospital than the Middleton's family manse.

At this time, there are no reports of increased police activity outside the Lindo Wing. There are a lot of press outside the hospital, and several live streams showing the door. Once Catherine is inside the hospital, there will be at least one policeman outside the door ... the one who will be accepting the teddy bears and flowers!

I will try to post updates here. Also follow me at twitter @royalmusing.

11:15 a.m. (East Coast). A car with a police escort would have arrived in London. No reports of increased security at hospital. No verification, but the Duke and Duchess could have headed directly to Nottingham Cottage.

11:33 Palace officials refuse to CONFIRM OR DENY that the Duke and Duchess have left Bucklebury and returned to London.

1:40 /6:40 p.m. Absolutely nothing to report.

3:00 / 8:00 pm There are reports that the police have returned to Middleton home at Bucklebury.

It is now close to 10 pm in the UK. There is nothing to report apart from a dog getting his head stuck in a gate at the Middletons' home.

There are reports from London that King Ferdinand of Bulgaria has fled his country. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that an "exceptionally well-informed source" states that the King is "in flight." Similar reports are coming out of Paris, stating that the king made "a hurried flight with Crown Prince Boris."

These reports, however, have not been confirmed. The Bulgarian Legation in Brussels "discredits" the reports.

But a Vienna dispatch states that Queen Eleonore has "arrived unexpectedly at Ernstbrunn," a castle in Lower Austria, which is owned by her nephew, the Prince of Reuss.

The New York Times' Berlin correspondent is "authorized to confirm" that Prince Albert of Monaco, has "decided to visit the United States in his yacht, the Hirondelle."

Prince Albert "imparted his intention" to the United States Naval attaché in Berlin, who was one of the prince's guests aboard "the Hirondelle at the Kiel regatta."

This will be Albert's first visit to the United States. He is said to be "looking forward to it with the keenest interest."

Most of his overseas cruises have been focused on the scientific. The Hirondelle is "essentially an oceanographic vessel" that is equipped with the most modern technology which "money can buy."

The 65-year-old Prince is an "intimate friend" of Kaiser Wilhelm II. He is said to have had "a strenuous matrimonial career." His first marriage to Lady Mary Douglas Hamilton, was annulled by the Vatican in 1880. He then married the American-born Alice Heine, the widow of the Duke of Richelieu. This marriage ended in divorce in 1902.

Prince Albert's son, Prince Louis, 43 and "still unmarried," may accompany his father on the cruise. Prince Louis is seen as one of the most eligible of princes.

The Hirondelle will make stops in New York City, Newport and "other leading Atlantic ports." The visit may take place later this summer or next Autumn.

In Memory of Nicholas II and Alexandra, Emperor and Empress of all the Russias. Tsarevitch Alexis, and Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, and their servants who were killed with them by the Bolsheviks on July 17, 1918

Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium has asked the government to name his sister, Princess Astrid, to succeed him as leader of Belgian's trade missions.

Philippe will succeed his father, King Albert II, as King of the Belgians, when Albert abdicates his throne, on Sunday, July 21. Philippe will be installed as Belgium's seventh sovereign. July 21 is Belgium's National Day.

Leading the trade missions has been the purview of the heir to the throne, but soon-to-be Duchess of Brabant -- Princess Elisabeth -- is only 11-years-old.

The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Furstenberg are expecting their first child in December. This will be the third grandchildren for the Prince and Princess of Furstenberg. The Hereditary Prince's younger brother, Antonius and his wife, Mathilde, are the parents of two sons.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

According to the New York Times, there was a "little ripple of amusement" about the Department of State. Apparently, someone was "directed to prepare a telegram of condolence" from the President of the United States to Emperor Nicholas II of Russia, on the death of the Emperor's younger brother, Grand Duke George.

The telegram was "a very short one," and it was ready in "a few minutes," and "sent as addressed,"

After the telegram was "on its way to St. Petersburg, "a mortifying discovery was made." The telegram was sent to "His Imperial Majesty Alexander III instead of Nicholas II."

A new directory of "ruling sovereigns" has been ordered by the State Department.

Nicholas II's official manifesto about his late brother, Grand Duke George, was published today.

"Our beloved brother and heir to the throne, the Grand Duke George Alexandrovitch died at Abbas Tuman June 28 (old style). The illness which attacked him might, it was hoped, yield to the treatment initiated and the influence of the southern climate. But God willed otherwise. In submitting without a murmur to the decree of Providence, we call our faithful subjects ti share our deep sorrow with us, and to offer fervent prayers for the repose of the soul of our departed brother.

"Henceforth, and so long as it may not be please God to bless us with a son, the right of succession to throne devolves, according to the precise definition of the law of succession, upon our beloved brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch."

The manifesto was signed "Nicholas."

Grand Duke George's body will be brought to St Petersburg and interred in the cathedral of St Paul and St. Peter. The Emperor and his family have received telegrams of condolences from Queen Victoria, King Umberto and other European sovereigns.

The late Grand Duke was an "English scholar and an earnest student of naval matters."

Contrary to reports, however, the Grand Duke had not married privately with his mother's consent.'

Buckingham Palace
10th July, 2013
The Queen held a Council at 12.40 pm.
There were present: the Rt Hon Nicholas Clegg MP (Lord President), the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP (Secretary of State, Department for Education), the Lord McNally (Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of State, Ministry of Justice) and the Rt Hon George Osborne MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer, HM Treasury).
Mr Richard Tilbrook was in attendance as Clerk of the Council.
The Rt Hon Nicholas Clegg MP had an audience of Her Majesty before the Council.

Later The King and Queen of the Netherlands visited The Queen and remained to Tea. The Baroness Rawlings (Baroness in Waiting) was present at Royal Air Force Northolt this afternoon upon the Arrival of The King and Queen of the Netherlands and welcomed Their Majesties on behalf of The Queen.

No other member of the Royal Family was present for the visit. One assumes it was a very nice Tea.

Even royals are not immune to economic downturns. Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her German husband, Count Jefferson-Froedrich von Pfeil und Klein are moving back to Germany, after both lost their jobs.

They had been living in a lovely and large apartment in Paris.

Count Jefferson has been without a job for some. He served as a director of the Paris branch of Oppenheim bank, a German bank, which closed after bankruptcy. Count Jefferson has not been able to parlay his experience and connections into a new renumerative position in Paris' financial sector.

Now comes word that Alexandra, the second of three children of Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg has been sacked from her position with UNESCO, a UN organization. She, too, was based in Paris.

Princess Alexandra has worked for UNESCO, specializing in cultural heritage, for some years.

Her position was eliminated after UNESCO's budget was severely cut.

Alexandra's father, Prince Richard, has come to her rescue. He has bought a house in a small town, near Mainz. The town is located in Germany's wine region so perhaps, the couple can find a new career in wine productions. Alexandra's first cousin, the new Landgrave of Hesse runs a successful winery.

The new home is about two hours drive from Berleburg, which will allow Princess Benedikte more opportunity to visit with her two eldest grandchildren.

Christa is Max's second wife. They were married in March 1973 after the divorce (and annulment) of Prince Max Emanuel's first marriage to Countess Anna Maria von Pocci.

Three months after the civil and religious weddings, Christa gave birth to the couple's first son, Hubertus, who was born June 22, 1973. A second son, Philipp, was born in April 1975.

Today: Princess Christa of Thurn and Taxis

How would you explain to a child your profession?

As a hotel clerk: I'm interested in people from all over the world in all its diversity. I'm happy to help people to make their lives as comfortable as possible. When BRK-President: I enjoy working in an organization like the Red Cross, with many volunteers dedicated people around the world helping people in need for over 150 years.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published without the prior approval of Marlene A. Koenig. You can, however, provide a link to the blog or to a post on the blog. Please credit Marlene A Koenig and Royal Musings. Thanks

Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.